Online mortgage broker E-Loan is trying to put a rocket under the home loan market by offering conditional loan approvals within 30 minutes.

Greater reliance on electronic banking, fewer bank branches and a move away from personal service to call centres are behind many of the problems dealt with by the Banking Ombudsman's Office.

Armstrong Jones is now going the OEIC route and will unveil a range of these beasties, managed by Edinburgh Fund Managers, at roadshows later this month.

Slugged the Rate Breaker, Wizard's new home loan has a floating rate of 7.79 per cent that should leave little doubt these guys are here to play hard ball.

One of Australia\'s leading non-bank lenders is revving up its engines here, offering borrowers a fee-free home loan and planning to debut other low-cost products shortly.

The trading banks have only recently got in on the act, but mortgage lenders like NZ Home Loans have been pushing debt consolidation and reduction for some time.

The High Court has given the green light to Waltus\' plans to merge a number of property syndicates into one company, in spite of objections by a group of dissenting shareholders.

Mortgage brokers are now responsible for arranging 23 per cent of mortgages in this country, says New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association chair Rob Tucker.

The housing market mightn't be hot, but offshore buyers are finding some bargains.

A new property website has been set by a guy who's not only been a frustrated homebuyer but who works in IT - and it's a happy combo.

Screen scrapers, super and spending on tech were among the topics touched on by AMP head Paul Batchelor when he came to town.

Confidence is picking up for the huge Auckland housing market, in spite of a tough winter and extremely low house sales nationwide.

Two US fund managers in New Zealand this week are putting the case for investing in the turbulent technology sector, and the health and biotech areas.

Floating mortgage rates could keep floating on up this year, now that higher inflation has been confirmed and the likelihood of Official Cash Rate hikes is increasingly strong.

Real estate, lawyer and mortgage broking combo REAL is continuing the fight to establish market share in spite of ongoing criticism from some established players.

Waltus' plans to merge 27 property syndicates into one company are on ice for at least a week or two yet, as it waits for a High Court decision following a substantive hearing yesterday.